On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, all of Hong Kong was either in bed or visiting close friends and relatives - except for our esteemed political reporters from leading newspapers, who had to make their way to The Peak, an annual pilgrimage to the residence of Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

Next day, the same ritual was repeated, this time to Shouson Hill, where the finance chief lives.

No one knows how it got started. It's hard to think either side really enjoys it.

And it is one reason I am glad not to be a political hack, with all due respect to this most serious of reporting beats.

Exchanging pleasantries with Henry Tang Ying-yen (pictured) with his legs up and slippers on is not exactly everyone's idea of spending the most important holiday of the year, but that's presumably what distinguishes the true hacks from the boys.